Method for storing a plurality of electronic smart cards

ABSTRACT

A method for storing a plurality of electronic smart cards each comprising a card body with a front surface and a rear surface, as well as an electronic module arranged in a recess in the front surface of the card body. The cards are stacked in series so as to be arranged in a number P of different directions such that the electronic module of a card having rank n is facing the rear surface of the card having rank n+P, while the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P are separated by an air space with a thickness that is P-1 times that of the card body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a method for storing a plurality ofelectronic smart cards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention can be applied advantageously for the production ofelectronic smart cards.

These cards are produced by a manufacturing method in which anelectronic module, mainly formed of a semi-conductive chip disposed on asupport fitted with electric contacts, is placed in a cavity arranged onthe rear surface of a card body and fixed with a glue, such as acyanoacrylate-based glue. The cards produced are generally stacked sothat the rear surface of one of them is in contact with the rear surfaceof another.

However, a certain number of cards are altered when they are arranged inthis way immediately after the operation for gluing the electronicmodule in the cavity of the card body. The alteration observed occurs ona portion of the front surface of each card placed against the rearsurface bearing the electronic module of the adjacent card and,depending on the case, affects the transparent protective varnish of thecard body, the transparent protective plastic film or the actual printedink.

This alteration is supposed to result from degassing of the glue usedand may extend for several days. This may occur without causing any illeffects when it concerns cards without any style of writing on the otherside. On the other hand, the alteration is unacceptable when it concernscards bearing on each of their surfaces a customized decorationconferring said cards with an improved aesthetic increment value.

The aim of the arrangement of cards via simple stacking is to facilitatea subsequent operation, such as handling, storage, shipment or anadditional processing. With users in particular, the cards may undergo acustomization operation, such as the marking or gluing of magnetictracks. It is then necessary for the cards to be delivered in aregrouped form with one being placed against the other as they need tobe submitted like this for processing.

One solution on altering of the cards, which would consist of changingeither the varnish or protective film or the glue, is not desirable. Infact, the actual choice of each of these constituents already resultsfrom a best possible compromise concerning their respective propertiesand advantages: the glue as regards in particular its effectiveness, thevarnish or protective film as regards a number of their properties,especially its capacity for electrostatic dispersion, hooking of themagnetic track and resistance to scratches.

A further solution able to avoid the deterioration of the cards couldconsist of deferring their storage for a certain period of time orstoring them temporarily in a charger in which the cards would be keptseparate from one another. However, these solutions are unsatisfactoryas the period of degassing is relatively long and may last several days.In addition, they are incompatible with the delivery periods requiringlarge storage volumes and can result in a production stoppage.

Another drawback of resorting to using the charger is of impedingsubsequent operations to the extent that the cards needed to be handledone by one so as to combine them for a serial processing. Thissubsequent processing may be carried out either in the plant or at thepremises of the user. It includes all sorts of operations, such aspacking into individual bags or user customization.

Also, the technical problem to be resolved by the present invention isto put forward a method for storing a plurality of electronic smartcards each comprising firstly a card body having one rear surface andone front surface, said method being able to avoid the drawbacksmentioned above by preventing the alteration of the smart cards in theproduction process and by facilitating subsequent operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the solution to the technicalproblem put forward is achieved in that said method consists of stackingsaid cards consecutively according to P different orientations so thatthe electronic module of a card having rank n is placed opposite thefront surface of the card having rank n+P, the rear surface of the cardhaving rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P beingseparated by an air space with a thickness equal to P-1 times thethickness of the card body.

Thus, none of the electronic modules is in contact with any rear surfaceof the plurality of the stored cards, which significantly limits thealtering of the cards due to degassing of the glue of the electronicmodules. The effect of altering shall be that much more reduced when thenumber P of orientations is high.

The cards are stored in batches in accordance with the method of theinvention throughout the desired period until any degassing trace iseliminated. It is then extremely easy to place them in a suitabledisposition for a subsequent operation, such as packing, by making theplurality of cards pivot so as to bring them into a perfect stackingposition. This maneuver is a short operation and can be made manuallyfor the entire pile.

So as to remove the vapors which form during glue degassing, theinvention advantageously provides that a forced ventilation is producedin said air space separating the front surface of the card having rank nand the rear surface of the card having rank n+P.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawingsgiven by way of non-restrictive examples shall fully reveal the detailsof the invention and how it can be embodied.

FIG. 1a is a top view of a first stacking of electronic smart cardsstored in accordance with the method of the invention.

FIG. 1b is a side view of the stacking of FIG. 1a.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a second stacking of electronic smart cardsstored in accordance with the method of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a third stacking of electronic smart cardsstored in accordance with the method of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a container able to receive a stacking of cardsconforming to FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the container of FIG. 4 and fitted with aventilation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1a and 1b show a stacking a electronic smart cards Cn, Cn+1, etc.,each comprising a card body 11 having one front surface 14 and one rearsurface 13. Provided on the front face 14 is a cavity 15 in which anelectronic module 12 is arranged and including a semiconductivemicroprocessor, EEPROM or chip, depending on the type of cards,connected to external electric contacts being flush with the frontsurface 14 of the card body 11.

The electronic module 12 is kept in the cavity 15 with the aid of acryanoacrylate glue, for example.

So as to limit the harmful effects of degassing of the glue of theelectronic module 12 on the surface of an adjacent card when the cardsare merely superimposed on one another, FIGS. 1a and 1b show that it isan advantage to stack the cards consecutively according to two differentorientations forming an angle of 180°. In this configuration, known as a`top to bottom` configuration, the cards are parallel but in an opposingdirection. More precisely, firstly the cards Cn, Cn+2, . . . , havingrank n, n+2, . . . , and secondly Cn+1, Cn+3, . . . , having rank n+1,n+3 occupy an identical position in the pile so that the electronicmodule 12 of the card having rang n, for example, is placed opposite therear surface 13 of the card having rank n+2, the front surface of thecard having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+2being separated by an air space 30 having a thickness equal here to thethickness of the card body 11.

FIG. 2 shows the cards stacked in two different orientations forming anangle of 90°, two successive cards Cn and Cn+1 being perpendicular toeach other in a bladed or fanned configuration. In this type ofstacking, the air space separating the front surface of the card havingrank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+2 is equal to thethickness of the body 11 of the card, as for the stacking of FIGS. 1aand 1b.

Of course, the number P of different orientations in which the cards aredistributed successively is not limited to P=2. In the example shown onFIG. 3, the cards can assume P=3 different orientations in a fan-shapeddisposition. In this case, the electronic module 12 of a card havingrank n is placed opposite the rear surface of the card having rank n+3,the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of thecard having rank n+3 being separated by an air space with a thicknessequal to 2 times the thickness of the body 11 of the card. This resultsin an increase of the thickness of said space which further facilitatesdegassing.

As illustrated on FIGS. 4 and 5, the cards can be kept in a containerplaced at the outlet of the assembling machine and having P compartmentscorresponding to P different configurations 22, 23 for receiving thecards stacked according to the bladed configuration of FIG. 2.

Degassing can be accelerated by means of a forced ventilation producedin the air space separating the front surface of a card having rank nand the rear surface of the card having rank n+2 (generally, n+P) withthe aid of ventilation nozzles shown on FIG. 5.

It can also be advantageous to store the piles of cards in a horizontalposition. In fact, the degassing vapors therefore flow much easier tozones where they are no longer able to leave any trace, having regard totheir density which differs from that of the air.

In conclusion, the advantages of the storage method of the inventionare:

The risk of marks on degassing is virtually eliminated without involvingany stress concerning the mode for producing the cards, the choice ofmaterials (glue, varnish, etc.) or the production speed.

Degassing time may be as long as desired without causing unproductiveequipment to stand idle or having excessive volumes.

The method does not involve any additional handling or any increase ofstorage or machine space.

The method can be used in subsequent production stages.

What is claimed is:
 1. Method for storing a plurality of electronic smart cards each firstly comprising a card body having a front surface and a rear surface, and secondly an electronic module disposed in a cavity fitted on the front surface of said card body, wherein said method consists of stacking said cards consecutively according to P different orientations so that the electronic module of a card having rank n is placed opposite the rear surface of the card having rank n+P, the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P being separated by an air space having a thickness equal to P-1 times the thickness of the card body.
 2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the cards are stacked consecutively according to two (P=2) different orientations forming an angle of 90°.
 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the cards are stacked consecutively according to two (P=2) different orientations forming an angle of 180°.
 4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the cards are stacked consecutively according to three (P=3) different orientations.
 5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said cards are kept in a container having P compartments corresponding to the P different orientations of the cards.
 6. Method according to claim 1, wherein a forced ventilation is produced in the air space separating the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P.
 7. Method according to claim 2, wherein said cards are kept in a container having P compartments corresponding to the P different orientations of the cards.
 8. Method according to claim 3, wherein said cards are kept in a container having P compartments corresponding to the P different orientations of the cards.
 9. Method according to claim 4, wherein said cards are kept in a container having P compartments corresponding to the P different orientations of the cards.
 10. Method according to claim 2, wherein a forced ventilation is produced in the air space separating the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P.
 11. Method according to claim 3, wherein a forced ventilation is produced in the air space separating the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P.
 12. Method according to claim 4, wherein a forced ventilation is produced in the air space separating the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P.
 13. Method according to claim 5, wherein a forced ventilation is produced in the air space separating the front surface of the card having rank n and the rear surface of the card having rank n+P. 